FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots could be making a change to their starting offense for Week 5.
Coach Jerod Mayo said it’s “definitely under consideration” to start running back Antonio Gibson over Rhamondre Stevenson on Sunday against the Dolphins because of ball security issues. Stevenson has fumbled in each of the Patriots’ first four games this season. He’s lost fumbles in Weeks 3 and 4.
“We can’t preach ball security is job security and still have him out there the majority of the time,” Mayo said.
Stevenson signed a four-year, $36 million contract extension this offseason with $17 million guaranteed as one of the Patriots’ best overall players.
The Patriots leaned on Stevenson in their lone win in Week 1 when he had 25 carries for 120 yards with a touchdown and three catches for six yards. He has 267 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 65 carries this season while adding nine catches for 34 yards.
Stevenson said he’s never experienced a situation like this while playing the position.
“Not like that. Not like this. It’s kind of new for me,” Stevenson said. “That’s why it’s frustrating me a little bit. I think I’ll be fine. … I’ve put the ball on the ground too many times. Whatever they plan to do, I’m ready to roll with it. I’m just going to show up to practice, do what I always do.”
Gibson, who signed a three-year, $11.25 million contract with the Patriots as a free agent this offseason, has 29 carries for 155 yards and seven catches for 82 yards. He’s second behind Stevenson in yards from scrimmage and has the Patriots’ two longest offensive plays – a 50-yard catch and 45-yard run.
Stevenson said he’s doing fine mentally. He remains confident in his abilities and believes he’ll be able to move past this difficult period.
“I’m very confident,” Stevenson said. “I know what I can do with the ball in my hands. It’s just about building that confidence with the coaches and my teammates again.”
DAVID ANDREWS, the Patriots’ veteran center, will undergo shoulder surgery, Mayo confirmed on Wednesday morning, adding Andrews will “probably” be placed on season-ending injured reserve.
“It’s a huge loss,” Mayo said.
Andrews was weighing whether to undergo surgery or play though injury and risk his availability for the 2025 season, sources told the Boston Herald. The 31-year-old center left during the first quarter of Sunday’s 30-13 loss at San Francisco and was later ruled out.
Backup guard/center Nick Leverett replaced Andrews and projects to be the Patriots’ new starting center. Leverett allowed a single pressure in pass protection against the 49ers.
Andrews is in his 10th NFL season and eighth as a team captain. He is regarded as one of the toughest players in the Patriots’ locker room and chose to return this year after briefly contemplating retirement last offseason. Andrews received a one-year contract extension in the spring.
BACK ON THE FIELD: The injury-plagued Patriots will soon be adding fresh legs on offense and defense, with wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, linebacker Sione Takitaki and safety Marte Mapu all returning to practice Wednesday.
Bourne and Takitaki began on the year on the PUP list, while Mapu was on injured reserve with a designation to return. Wednesday was Bourne’s first practice since last year, when he tore his ACL in late October. Takitaki took part in organized team activities but spent all of training camp on the PUP list with a knee injury. Mapu participated early in training camp but spent nearly all of the summer in an observation role.
The Patriots will have 21 days to activate Bourne, Takitaki and Mapu, but Mayo seems to believe they could play as early as Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
“I wouldn’t say it’s unrealistic,” Mayo said Wednesday. “I think we have to sit here and see how the next couple of days go.”
Bourne joins a wide receiver corps that includes DeMario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton, Javon Baker and Kayshon Boutte already on the 53-man roster. Takitaki is returning at a good time, with starting middle linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley on injured reserve. And Mapu could be needed, as Kyle Dugger nurses an ankle injury that knocked him out of Sunday’s game and kept him from practicing Wednesday.
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